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“Democratizing advanced voyage planning”:  THETIS AI charts a smarter, cleaner future for global shipping

Boarding Pass

“Democratizing advanced voyage planning”: THETIS AI charts a smarter, cleaner future for global shipping

Founded this year by a former Israeli Navy officer and a deep-tech entrepreneur, and having recently completed a $3 million investment round, THETIS AI is on a mission to deliver a more intelligent and sustainable future for global shipping.

CTech | 11:52, 08.10.25

“Most shipping companies lack the tools to make data-driven voyage decisions in real time,” explained THETIS AI. “THETIS AI is democratizing access to advanced voyage planning for a wide range of operators, accelerating digitalization and sustainability efforts in a traditionally conservative industry.”

Launched in 2025, THETIS AI was founded by former Israeli Navy officer Roei Shaham, who recognized the significant inefficiencies and environmental costs of traditional voyage planning, and teamed up with deep-tech entrepreneur Ohad Levin to address them.

AI Roei Shaham (Co-Founder and CEO) and Ohad Levin (Co-Founder and CEO) at THETIS AI Roei Shaham (Co-Founder and CEO) and Ohad Levin (Co-Founder and CEO) at THETIS AI Roei Shaham (Co-Founder and CEO) and Ohad Levin (Co-Founder and CEO) at THETIS

“THETIS AI’s mission is to drive a more efficient, sustainable, and intelligent future for global shipping,” they said.

You can learn more about the company below.

Company Name: THETIS AI

Sector: AI, Maritime Technology

Product/Service description:

THETIS AI’s mission is to drive a more efficient, sustainable, and intelligent future for global shipping. THETIS AI is a maritime technology startup that helps shipping companies optimize their voyages using artificial intelligence. Its platform delivers real-time, data-driven voyage planning that reduces fuel consumption, lowers CO₂ emissions, and cuts operational costs.

The system integrates seamlessly with onboard navigation and performance systems and processes dozens of real-time parameters such as weather forecasts (wind, waves, currents), port congestion, vessel-specific characteristics, and global shipping data. Using advanced AI algorithms, THETIS AI generates fully optimized, personalized voyage plans for each vessel.

The result: measurable impact, at least 10% reduction in fuel consumption per ship annually, which translates into up to $1 million in annual savings per vessel. Given that fuel accounts for more than 50% of a ship’s operational costs, this creates significant financial value for shipping companies. With over 100,000 merchant ships worldwide, the potential industry wide savings reach tens of billions of dollars annually, alongside substantial environmental benefits through reduced CO₂ emissions.

Founder Bios:

Roei Shaham, Co-Founder and CEO, is a former Head of the Cyber and Navigation Department in the Israeli Navy and holds the rank of Lt. Commander (res.). He holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from The Open University and a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies in the Humanities from the University of Haifa.

Ohad Levin, Co-Founder and CEO, previously served as Co-Founder & CTO at Shield IoT, a company specializing in protecting industrial IoT networks. He holds an MBA from the University of Haifa and a B.A. in Computer Science from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Year of Founding: 2025
Last Investment Round: $3 million
Last Investment Stage: Seed
Date of Last Investment: Jun 2025 (The funding round was handled by Adv. Ron Perry and Adv. Oren Sharon, Head of the High-Tech Department at S. Friedman, Abramson & Co.)
Total investment to date: $3 million
Investors: Fresh, Gravity, Adama (Crescendo), Elements, Ratio (Keren Yam), HiCenter (Blue Economy)
Current number of employees: 7
Open positions: DevOps
Website: www.thetisai.com
Social Media: www.linkedin.com/company/thetisai

How was the idea born?

The idea for THETIS AI was born from firsthand experience in the maritime and technology sectors. Roei Shaham, a former officer in the Israeli Navy with deep knowledge of navigation systems, recognized the massive inefficiencies and environmental impact of traditional voyage planning.

Together with Ohad Levin, an experienced deep-tech entrepreneur, they saw a unique opportunity to combine real-time maritime data with AI to create smarter, more sustainable voyage optimization solutions.

The founders realized that by applying advanced algorithms to available onboard and external data sources, it was possible to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions without changing how crews operate the vessel.

What is the need for the product?

Shipping companies are under increasing pressure from both rising fuel costs and stricter environmental regulations aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions. Fuel accounts for over 50% of a vessel’s operational expenses, and the maritime sector is responsible for roughly 4% of global CO₂ emissions.

There is a growing regulatory push (e.g. from IMO and the EU) and commercial pressure to decarbonize. However, most shipping companies lack the tools to make data-driven voyage decisions in real time.

THETIS AI addresses this gap with a plug- and-play solution that integrates with existing onboard systems and delivers optimized voyage plans that reduce fuel usage by at least 10%.

How is it changing the market?

THETIS AI introduces a shift from static, experience-based voyage planning to dynamic, algorithmic optimization. This empowers shipping companies to continuously adapt their routes based on real-time data – including weather, sea conditions, congestion, and vessel- specific parameters – unlocking both economic and environmental gains.

By making optimization accessible without disrupting existing workflows, THETIS AI is democratizing access to advanced voyage planning for a wide range of operators, accelerating digitalization and sustainability efforts in a traditionally conservative industry.

How big is the market for the product and who are its main customers?

The total addressable market includes over 100,000 merchant vessels worldwide, ranging from bulk carriers and tankers to container ships. Each vessel spends millions of dollars annually on fuel, making even marginal savings extremely valuable. Assuming just 10% savings per vessel, the cumulative industry-wide value is in the tens of billions of dollars annually.

The primary customers are shipping companies, fleet operators, and technical managers looking to reduce fuel costs, meet emissions targets, and improve operational efficiency.

Does the product exist already? If not - at what stage is it and when is it expected to hit the market?

Yes, the product already exists and is currently installed and operational in its initial version on board vessels operated by our design partners (four global shipping companies). THETIS AI is now in the process of developing the next product iteration, which will include expanded capabilities.

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Who are the main competitors in this sector and how big are they?

There are several players in the voyage optimization sector for merchant shipping, including both legacy software providers and newer startups. However, there is still no comprehensive solution on the market that fully addresses the operational needs of shipping companies while dynamically adapting to both vessel-specific parameters and changing environmental conditions.

THETIS AI stands out by combining deep maritime domain knowledge with cutting-edge AI expertise. Our goal is to deliver a plug-and-play solution that meets the complex, real-time decision-making demands of fleet operators, something existing tools have yet to achieve effectively.

What is the added value that the founders bring to the company and the product?

The founders bring a unique combination of domain knowledge, technical expertise, and industry credibility: Roei Shaham brings naval experience in navigation and maritime systems, as well as a deep understanding of maritime operations and regulatory challenges.

Ohad Levin has a strong track record as a deep-tech entrepreneur and brings deep AI/ML and system architecture experience, having built and scaled tech products in critical infrastructure sectors.

Together, they combine operational maritime insight with cutting-edge tech execution.

What will the money coming in from the round be used for?

The funds raised in this round will be used to scale the deployment of our solution across new fleets, accelerate product development, and expand our R&D capabilities.

In the "Startup Boarding Pass" section, CTech will cover the (relatively) small investments made in companies during the early stages of their existence - and the entrepreneurs and startups who have not yet had the opportunity to reveal their stories to the world. Please use the linked form and fill it out according to the guidelines. This form is intended for startups raising between $500,000 and $3 million from venture capital funds, angels, or official grants from Israeli and foreign institutions.

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